president obama remarkably consistent in his intent to raise taxes on the top 2% of taxpayers. half of those are small-business men and women. the entire election season, he did say a number of times since being reelected, and he's not backing off. e president and his baath insist on higher taxes for the so-called wealthy. remarkably, republicans seem surprised by secrery geithner. chief correspondent ed henry with our repor reporter: optimism faded as timothy geithner let the republicans to decle the talks are going nowhere. >> i'm disappointed. i'm disappnted in where we are and what has happened over the last couple of weeks. i'm hehere trying to seriously resolve it. and i would hope the white house would get it as well. reporter: a key driver is that the president announced that spending cuts can wait. >> it would give us more time the next year to work together on a comprehensive plan to bring down the deficit. jay carney broke new ground by declaring that the president does on spending cuts within the budget plan to be included in the fiscal cliff talks. >> can you also